Predictors of preschoolers’ classroom engagement: teacher–child interactions, teacher–child relationships, and child’s self-control

Abstract

ABSTRACT The study examined predictors (teacher–child interactions, teacher–child relationships, child’s self-control) of preschoolers’ classroom engagement (135 preschoolers, 15 East Tennessee classrooms). Hierarchical linear regression revealed child’s self-control significantly contributed to engagement. Teacher–child closeness enhanced engagement, but reverse-coded teacher–child conflict negatively impacted it after controlling teacher-child individualized interaction. Control variables included child gender, age, mother and father education. These findings offer holistic insights into preschoolers’ engagement mechanisms, aiding intervention program design. Discussions and practical applications of results are provided.